Shows
The University of Texas at Austin PodcastUnlocking Undergraduate Research at UT Austin: Programs, Resources, and Real-World Opportunities Across All Majors"Hey, I'm Jenny, I'm AI. I'm here to get you the facts on Research Opportunities for Undergraduates at University of Texas at Austin"
Let us talk about research at the University of Texas at Austin, a major research powerhouse in Texas and across the nation. For undergraduates, the opportunities are both broad and deep, spanning sciences, engineering, liberal arts, and more. The university is home to the Office of Undergraduate Research, dedicated to connecting students with faculty-driven research projects and funding sources. This office helps demystify the process, making research accessible from the very first year.
Students here can participate...
2026-01-1504 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastComprehensive Campus Safety at UT Austin: Security Measures, Emergency Systems, and Student Support Explained"Hey, I'm Jenny, I'm AI. I'm here to get you the facts on Campus Safety and Security Measures at University of Texas at Austin"
Campus safety is a top priority at the University of Texas at Austin, and the institution invests significant resources to ensure a secure environment for its students, faculty, and staff. The University of Texas at Austin Police Department operates around the clock, with officers trained specifically for campus scenarios and emergency preparedness. This force works closely with the Austin Police Department to coordinate responses and maintain a visible presence on and around campus.
Students and parents...
2026-01-1503 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastBuilding Belonging: How UT Austin Champions Diversity, Inclusion, and Student Success Across Campus"Hey, I'm Jenny, I'm AI. I'm here to get you the facts on Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives at University of Texas at Austin"
At the University of Texas at Austin, diversity and inclusion are more than aspirations; they are built into the foundation of campus life. The university’s Division of Diversity and Community Engagement leads the way, offering dozens of programs and partnerships that foster a welcoming environment for all students, faculty, and staff. Whether you are from a small town in Texas or another continent, the university aims to create a space where every voice is heard and va...
2026-01-1503 min
Settler Nationalism in AmericaOld Main Building at UT Austin, Austin, Texas (1882-1889), The Ruffini BrothersIn this episode, Sriya Katanguru uses the architectural plans and first buildings created for the University of Texas at Austin's campus to analyze the relationship between land, the university, and the state. She finds that both the aesthetic choices and the commercialization of land holdings continues to support a settler colonial narrative of American education and citizenship to this day.
2026-01-0610 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin Update: UT Press 75th, New Cosmic AI Institute, WaterHub Project, Admissions Change, Protest Response, and Blanton Art NewsGood afternoon, Longhorns! It's Monday, September 22, 2025, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
The University of Texas Press marked its 75th anniversary with a day-long event at the Austin Central Library on Sunday. The celebration featured discussions by authors and editors on topics ranging from Black history and football to grief psychology and music criticism. Since its founding in 1950, UT Press has published over 4,000 books, establishing itself as the largest publisher in Texas and maintaining a strong reputation in both scholarly and trade publishing.
UT Austin has been selected to lead the NSF-Simons AI Institute for...
2025-09-2202 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin Lowers Auto-Admission to Top 5%, Expands Free Tuition, Unveils WaterHub & Welcomes New President in Major 2025 UpdatesGood morning, Longhorns! It's Monday, September 15, 2025, and here's your latest campus news.
Starting with the Fall 2026 admissions cycle, the University of Texas at Austin will adjust its automatic admission policy. Currently, Texas high school students in the top 6% of their class receive automatic admission. This threshold will be lowered to the top 5% to better manage enrollment and maintain academic excellence.
In February 2025, James E. Davis was appointed as the 31st president of UT Austin. Davis, who previously served as the university's senior vice president and chief operating officer, brings a wealth of experience to his new role.
The university is...
2025-09-1602 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin News: $10M Gift, Safety Upgrades, AI Institute Launch, New President, Basketball Coach, and Enhanced Campus MapGood morning, Longhorns! It's Monday, September 8, 2025, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
First up, the William P. Clements Foundation has committed $10 million to secure the future of UT's Clements Center for National Security. This generous gift will expand opportunities for students and faculty, enhancing research and education in national security.
In campus safety news, the University of Texas Police Department has increased patrols in the West Campus area and is cross-training with the Austin Police Department to enhance safety measures. This initiative aims to provide a more secure environment for students and residents.
On the...
2025-09-0801 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin Update: New President, WaterHub Launch, Expanded Tuition Aid, Protest Guidelines, & Basketball Coach ChangeGood afternoon, Longhorns! It's Monday, September 1st, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
In February, James E. Davis assumed the role of interim president of UT Austin, following Jay Hartzell's departure to lead Southern Methodist University. Davis, a UT alumnus with a background in law and military service, has been part of the university's administration since 2018. His leadership is expected to guide the university through this transitional period.
The university is making significant strides in water conservation with the development of the WaterHub, a 9,600-square-foot facility set to become the largest of its kind at...
2025-09-0102 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin News: New President, Record Applications, Policy Changes, & Lone Star Showdown Return—August 25, 2025 UpdateGood afternoon, Longhorns! It's Monday, August 25, 2025, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
Currently, it's mostly sunny with a temperature of 71 degrees Fahrenheit. As the day progresses, expect temperatures to rise, reaching a high of 99 degrees by late afternoon. Remember to stay hydrated and find some shade if you're spending time outdoors.
The UT System Board of Regents has officially appointed Jim Davis as the new president of UT Austin. Davis, who has been serving as interim president since February, is the first president in over a century to come from a non-academic background. His extensive...
2025-08-2502 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin Makes History: Record Applications, UNESCO Honor, Football’s No. 1 Ranking, and Lone Star Showdown HighlightsGood afternoon, Longhorns! It's Monday, August 18, 2025, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
Currently, it's sunny and 76 degrees Fahrenheit. As the day progresses, expect temperatures to rise, reaching a high of 105 degrees by late afternoon. Remember to stay hydrated and take breaks indoors to beat the heat.
Vincent Phillip Muñoz, a scholar of religious rights affiliated with UT's Civitas Institute, is among five finalists for the deanship of the College of Liberal Arts. This appointment could significantly influence the direction of one of the university's largest academic divisions.
In other news, UT Austin has been d...
2025-08-1802 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin Update: UNESCO Recognition, Record Applications, and Lone Star Showdown Returns for Fall 2025Good afternoon, Longhorns! It's Monday, August 11, 2025, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
First, let's talk about the weather. Currently, it's partly sunny with a temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit. As the day progresses, expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures climbing to a high of 99 degrees by late afternoon. So, stay hydrated and find some shade if you're out and about.
In academic news, UT Austin has been designated as a UNESCO Chair in Open Data, AI, and Water for Cities. This prestigious recognition highlights the university's commitment to using artificial intelligence and open data to help...
2025-08-1101 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin Update: Water Sustainability Innovation, AI & Microelectronics Advances, Leadership Changes, DEI Shifts, and Campus NewsGood afternoon, Longhorns! It's Monday, August 4th, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
Currently, it's partly sunny with a temperature of 76 degrees. As the day progresses, expect intermittent clouds with temperatures reaching up to 97 degrees by mid-afternoon. Stay hydrated and take precautions against the heat.
*Water Sustainability Initiative*
UT Austin is taking a significant step toward water conservation with the development of the WaterHub, a 9,600-square-foot facility set to be the largest of its kind at a U.S. university. Scheduled to be operational by fall 2027, the WaterHub will reclaim up to 1 million gallons of...
2025-08-0404 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin Update: FLARE-X Wildfire Breakthrough, Space Mission Leadership, Hydration Tech, Softball Champions, and New Admissions PolicyGood morning, Longhorns! It's Monday, July 28, 2025, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
First, let's talk about the weather. Currently, it's cloudy and 77 degrees. Temperatures are expected to rise throughout the day, reaching a high of 97 degrees by late afternoon. So, stay hydrated and take precautions if you're spending time outdoors.
In campus news, the FLARE-X team, led by Professor Luis Sentis and supported by senior aircraft design students, has advanced to the semifinals of the XPRIZE Wildfire competition. This $5 million contest challenges teams to develop autonomous systems for detecting and suppressing high-risk wildfires. The team's...
2025-07-2802 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin Advances Water Sustainability, Welcomes New Coach, Faces Free Speech Lawsuit, and Boosts Northeast EnrollmentGood morning, Longhorns! It's Monday, July 21, 2025, and here's what's happening at the University of Texas at Austin.
UT Austin is making significant strides in water sustainability with the development of the WaterHub, a 9,600-square-foot facility set to become the largest of its kind at a U.S. university. Scheduled to be operational by fall 2027, the WaterHub will reclaim up to 1 million gallons of wastewater daily, aiming to reduce the campus's reliance on municipal water and alleviate pressure on Austin's water supply. Located in the engineering district, the facility will also serve as a hands-on research laboratory for students and faculty.
...
2025-07-2103 minThe University of Texas at Austin PodcastUT Austin News: Water Sustainability, Tuition Waivers, DEI Layoffs, Free Speech Lawsuit, and New Basketball Coach AnnouncedGood morning, Longhorns! It's Monday, July 21, 2025, and here's your latest campus news.
The University of Texas at Austin is making significant strides in water sustainability with the development of the WaterHub, a 9,600-square-foot facility set to become the largest of its kind at a U.S. university. Scheduled to be operational by fall 2027, the WaterHub will reclaim up to 1 million gallons of wastewater daily, aiming to reduce the campus's reliance on municipal water and alleviate pressure on Austin's water supply. Located in the engineering district, this facility will also serve as a hands-on research laboratory for students and faculty to...
2025-07-1804 min
Supersized ScienceHurricane Simulations in High GearThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) of the University of Texas at Austin. Supersized Science is hosted by Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season left a trail of destruction in its wake, causing hundreds of fatalities and more than $200 billion dollars in damages. Despite the heavy toll, supercomputer simulations were an important tool for U.S. state and federal agencies in protecting life and property.
Supercomputers at the Texas Advanced Computing Center—Vista, Frontera, Stampede3, and Lonestar6—are used...
2025-01-2317 min
Supersized ScienceSurprising Vortex Behind New Solar Cell and Lighting MaterialsThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin.
Materials called metal-halide perovskites have quickly advanced in the last decade since their discovery as a semiconductor that outshines silicon in its conversion of light into electric current.
Simulations on TACC's Frontera and Lonestar6 supercomputers have revealed surprising vortex structures in quasiparticles of electrons and atoms, called polarons, which contribute to generating electricity from sunlight.
This new discovery can help scientists develop new solar cells and LED lighting. This type of...
2024-06-2509 min
Supersized ScienceDiamond HeatThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin.
Diamond is the hardest material found in nature — diamond also has the highest thermal conductivity, allowing the most heat to flow through it rapidly.
An international team of scientists used TACC’s Frontera supercomputer for simulations that found that by flexing diamond, its thermal conductivity can be drastically tuned up or down.
Scientists worldwide are interested in studying elastic strain engineering to discover the properties that materials exhibit when they are unde...
2024-05-2907 min
Supersized ScienceCooler Transformers Could Help the Electric GridThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin.
Electric transformers convert high voltage to lower voltage that’s useful for households to plug into. In the U.S., transformers are aging and approaching an average of being 30 to 40 years old. And they face more stress than ever before brought on by factors such as renewable energy demands and by extreme weather events such as hurricanes, heat waves, and winter storms.
University of Texas at Austin researchers have taken a lo...
2024-04-1608 min
Point of DiscoveryA Once-in-Many-Centuries EventHere in the U.S., many of us are eagerly awaiting the April 8th, 2024 total solar eclipse, the last of its kind to cross our paths (at least in the contiguous U.S.) until the year 2045. Austin, Texas, where we produce Point of Discovery, is right in the path of totality. And this eclipse feels even more special because the last total solar eclipse in Austin happened before there was an Austin, in the year 1397.On today’s show, we talk to bird biologist Peter English about the strange ways that animals respond to solar eclipses; biologist Da...
2024-03-0812 min
Supersized ScienceScientific Supercomputing and AIThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. TACC science writer Jorge Salazar hosts a special podcast for the supercomputing conference SC23 in Denver, Colorado.
The popularity of artificial intelligence has skyrocketed in 2023, thanks in large part to ChatGPT, which has created a Sputnik moment for AI, and has grabbed public attention, headlines, and funding.
What’s less known is that decades of scientific supercomputing and high performance computing (HPC) laid the foundation for AI's moment. And now science co...
2023-11-1312 min
Point of DiscoveryI Know What You're ThinkingOn today’s show we talk with Alex Huth, assistant professor of neuroscience and computer science at The University of Texas at Austin, and Ph.D. student Jerry Tang about a new system that can read a person’s thoughts in real time and produce a stream of continuous text. The system they developed, called a semantic decoder, relies in part on the kind of AI model behind ChatGPT. It might one day help people who are mentally conscious yet unable to physically speak, such as those debilitated by strokes, to communicate intelligibly again. The scientists behind it are also...
2023-05-0112 minSupersized ScienceBrain Games Reveal Clues on How the Mind WorksThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
Scientists are using TACC’s Maverick2 supercomputer and data from the game Ebb and Flow by Lumosity to train deep learning models that mimic the human behavior of “task-switching,” shifting attention from one task to another.
This basic research is important for helping scientists understand cognitive control, which encompasses the basic mental processes that allow one to focus on the task at han...
2023-04-2715 minSupersized ScienceNew Simulation Reveals Secrets of Exotic Form of Electrons Called PolaronsThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
A new leaf has turned in scientists' hunt for developing cutting-edge materials used in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) TV's, touchscreens, and more. The advance involves the polaron, a quasiparticle consisting of an electron and its surrounding distortions of atoms in a crystal lattice.
Simulations on the Texas Advanced Computing Center's Frontera supercomputer have helped scientists map for the first time the...
2023-03-2217 minSupersized ScienceRare Quasar Triplet Forms Most Massive Object in UniverseThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
Ultra-massive black holes are the most massive objects in the universe. Their mass can reach millions and billions of solar masses. Supercomputer simulations on TACC's Frontera supercomputer have helped astrophysicists reveal the origin of ultra-massive black holes formed about 11 billion years ago.
On the podcast is Yueying Ni, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Ni is the le...
2023-03-1310 minSupersized ScienceHETDEX Reveals Galaxy Gold Mine in First Large SurveyThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
If you hold one wire mesh on top of another one and look through it, you'll see a larger pattern called a moiré pattern formed by the overlapping grids of the two meshes, which depends on their relative twisted angle. Scientists developing new materials are actively studying moiré patterns in overlapping atomically thin materials — they produce intriguing electronic phenomena that includes unco...
2023-02-0915 minSupersized ScienceNew Quasiparticle Discovered In Moiré PatternsThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
If you hold one wire mesh on top of another one and look through it, you'll see a larger pattern called a moiré pattern formed by the overlapping grids of the two meshes, which depends on their relative twisted angle. Scientists developing new materials are actively studying moiré patterns in overlapping atomically thin materials — they produce intriguing electronic phenomena that includes unco...
2022-11-0717 minSupersized ScienceNuclear Crossing GuardThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
A new mechanism has been determined for the first time for the passive transport of biomolecules through the nuclear pore complex, which are apertures that perforate the otherwise iron-clad membrane surrounding the cell nucleus and act like crossing guards for macromolecular traffic in and out of the nucleus. If the crossing-guard misfires, it can cause human diseases such as cancer, viral...
2022-10-1213 minSupersized ScienceFirst Stars and Black HolesThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
Just milliseconds after the universe's Big Bang, chaos reigned. Atomic nuclei fused and broke apart in hot, frenzied motion. Incredibly strong pressure waves built up and squeezed matter so tightly together that black holes formed, which astrophysicists call primordial black holes.
Did primordial black holes help or hurt the formation of the universe's first stars, eventually born about 100 million years later?
...
2022-08-1120 min
Point of DiscoveryNeutralizing Crazy AntsOver the past 15 years or so, tawny crazy ants from South America have been popping up across the southeastern U.S. like paratroopers dropping in from an invading army. Where they take hold, they’re like an ecological wrecking ball and they cause headaches for homeowners. Podcast host Marc Airhart joined biologist Edward LeBrun in the Texas Hill Country to test a new weapon in the battle against the destructive tawny crazy ant.Show NotesLeBrun studies invasive species at the University of Texas at Austin’s Brackenridge Field Laboratory.Watch a related vide...
2022-07-1315 min
The Other Side of CampusEpisode 29: The Aesthetics of Health with Megan HildebrandtKatie and Dixie speak with Professor Megan Hildebrandt whose unique life journey, which conjoined her artistic development with serious unexpected health issues, led her to become an "arts in healthcare advocate." Her experiential learning class, the Aesthetics of Health, won a Texas Tower award in 2021 and is a proving ground for the beneficial effects of artmaking in healthcare spaces. Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Megan Hildebrandt received her BFA from the Stamps School of Art & Design in 2006, and her MFA in Studio Art from the University of...
2022-07-0440 minSupersized ScienceDeep Learning for New AlloysThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
When is something more than just the sum of its parts? Metal alloys show such synergy. The alloy steel, for instance revolutionized industry by taking iron, adding a little carbon and making an alloy much stronger than either of its components.
Supercomputer simulations are helping scientists discover new types of alloys, called high-entropy alloys. Researchers have used the Stampede2 supercomputer of...
2022-06-2113 minSupersized ScienceSupercomputer Helps Reveal Weaknesses in HIV-1 ‘Armor'The Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC, hosts the podcast.
Much remains to be discovered on how the HIV-1 virus infects our cells. Scientists know that it slips past the defenses of our immune system, entering white blood cells to deliver its genetic payload and hijack the cell's transcription machinery that in turn cranks out copies of viral RNA and new HIV-1 viruses. But many of the details remain hazy.
A...
2022-06-1610 minSupersized ScienceCooperation Rewards Water UtilitiesThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. Podcast host Jorge Salazar is a science writer at TACC.
Mark Twain is attributed with the quote, "Whisky is for drinking, and water is for fighting over!" But what if cooperation yielded more benefit than just going it alone, when it comes to urban water utilities?
A new study of water supply in the North Carolina Research Triangle found that agreements between water utilities can help mitigate their risks.
The research...
2022-05-1913 minSupersized ScienceDevil in the Coronavirus Fusion DetailsThe Supersized Science podcast features research and discoveries nationwide enabled by advanced computing technology and expertise at the Texas Advanced Computing Center of the University of Texas at Austin. The host is Jorge Salazar, a science writer at TACC.
The details of how the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects human lung cells remains a mystery to experimental scientists. Now, the devilish details of the mechanism for fusion of the coronavirus to host cells has been revealed through simulations by University of Chicago researchers using the Frontera supercomputer at the Texas Advanced Computing Center.
The computer models they’ve developed show cooperative behavior of...
2022-05-0413 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 28: Experiential Learning Abroad: Studying Ukraine and Youth Political EngagementIn this special episode, Katie talks with two prominent UT professors, Drs. Mary Neuburger and Oksana Lutsyshyna, and former students of theirs who together undertook a phenomenal investigative project in spring 2019 to examine and closely follow Ukrainian youth political engagement during the presidential election in which Volodymyr Zelensky ultimately won, beating incumbent Petro Poroshenko. The team discusses the fascinating process by which they began their research, connected with Ukrainian students via Skype (not Zoom!), and eventually traveled to Ukraine itself. The lasting relationships and connections they made during that memorable month abroad in early summer 2019 inform their thinking and...
2022-04-0447 min
Point of DiscoveryA Physicist’s Search for BeautyIn addition to original interviews, today’s episode features excerpts from three interviews:On the Shoulders of Giants: Steven Weinberg and the Quest to Explain the World (2021), World Science FestivalPhysicist Steven Weinberg on His Search for a "Final Theory" (1993), Fresh AirThe Bill Moyers Interview: Steven Weinberg (1990), Bill MoyersOur theme music was composed by Charlie HarperOther music for today’s show was produced by: Podington BearOn Monday, March 21, UT Austin is hosting a memorial lecture in honor of Steven Weinberg, featuring his fellow Nobel...
2022-03-0910 min
Point of DiscoveryRemembering Steven WeinbergOn Monday, March 21, UT Austin is hosting a memorial lecture in honor of Steven Weinberg, featuring his fellow Nobel Laureate, MIT’s Frank Wilczek. This event is free and open to the public, both in-person and virtually via Zoom. Find out more and register here.Donate to the Physics Theory Group, in memory of Steven WeinbergIn addition to original interviews, today’s episode features excerpts from two videos:On the Shoulders of Giants: Steven Weinberg and the Quest to Explain the World (2021), World Science FestivalInterview with Professor Steven Weinberg (2001), Nobe...
2022-02-2111 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 26: Teaching Research Through Story: Immigration, Deportation, and Migrant Health with Miguel PinedoOn this episode, Dixie and Stephanie talk with Dr. Miguel Pinedo from the College of Education. He focuses on studying the health implications of immigration policies on migrants residing on both sides of the US-Mexico border. Although a research-trained professor, in the classroom, Dr. Pinedo expounds on how he has developed practices to humanize his research to help students viscerally connect the data and findings to real life experiences. Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Miguel Pinedo is an Assistant Professor in Department of Kinesiology and Health Education at The...
2022-02-0739 min
Point of DiscoveryFrog PandemicUntil COVID-19, few people alive today had experienced the chaos and destruction of a really bad pandemic, one that has at times ground businesses, schools and social lives to a near standstill and killed millions globally. But did you know that we aren’t alone in being battered by a global infectious disease? Frogs are also struggling through their own pandemic that, according to biologist Kelly Zamudio, has several eerie parallels with COVID-19. Perhaps our own encounters with a pandemic will give us new sympathy for our slimy, bug-eyed friends.A 2019 study in Science found that a ch...
2022-01-1311 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 25: "Sipping Coffee with Intention": Mindfulness Training in the Classroom with James ButlerJen and Stephanie get a chance to talk with a new and very welcome addition to the UT Austin campus, James Butler, who brings nearly two decades of expertise in mindfulness training to the Forty Acres. Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
James Butler (he/him/his) will be sharing mindfulness on campus through a healing and equity-centered lens with a focus on supporting students. James came to mindfulness to support his own mental health struggles and is excited to share the many benefits and ways that mindfulness can...
2022-01-0735 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 24: Checking In and Acting Out: The Graduate Student Perspective with Kaitlyn Farrell RodriguezDixie and Stephanie get a chance to talk with PhD candidate and graduate student mentor Kaitlyn Farrell Rodriguez about her current work in student mentorship and wellness and the ways in which she uses her previous experience as a dramaturg in her classroom and research. Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Kaitlyn Farrell Rodriguez is a PhD candidate at the University of Texas at Austin. She studies the intersection of feminism, modern drama, and performance studies. She is currently the Graduate Teaching Consultant at the Faculty Innovation Center...
2021-12-0325 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 23: The Power of Travel: International Work and Global Exchange with James PattonIn honor of International Education Week, we invited James Patton to talk with us about his life, his prolific work with special education programs around the world, and his undergraduate classes in which he carries out State Department-sponsored global exchange. Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
James R. Patton is currently an independent consultant and Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Austin. He has taught students with special needs at the elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels in both public and private settings. He was formerly...
2021-11-1936 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 22: Humanity in Higher Ed: Supporting Students, Modeling Care, and Forging Connection with Molly HatcherDr. Molly Hatcher, the director of the Faculty Innovation Center at UT Austin, joins Stephanie and Dixie to talk about the book she recently co-edited entitled Preparing for College and University Teaching: Competencies for Graduate and Professional Students. Dr. Hatcher holds a JD as well as a joint PhD in English and Women's Studies from the University of Michigan. This was a great follow-up to our previous conversation with Dr. Thea Woodruff on effective teaching and student wellness. Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Molly Hatcher is...
2021-11-0236 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 21: "FUN is not a bad word!": Motivation, Effective Teaching, and Student Wellness with Thea WoodruffOn this episode of The Other Side of Campus, Jen and Stephanie invite Thea Woodruff, Director of Well-being in Learning Environments at the Counseling and Mental Health Center to talk about her initiative to help improve interactions between faculty and students in order to create a more effective teaching and learning environment (in person or online). We hope you enjoy this FUN and uplifting conversation!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Thea Woodruff coordinates the Well-Being in Learning Environments project, a project that works with faculty to imbed practices for improving student well-being in their classes. Thea...
2021-10-1536 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 20: Inside the Role: Listening, Consensus Building, and Problem Solving with Texas Provost Sharon WoodSeason 2 kicks off with Dr. Sharon L. Wood! As the new provost of The University of Texas at Austin, she brings a wealth of experience as a structural engineer, teacher, and administrator to the position. We are so excited to get to speak with her, glean from her insights, and empathize with the extreme complexity of her job as provost, especially at this unprecedented time in higher education history. We hope you enjoy this conversation. Thank you for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sharon L. Wood began serving as...
2021-09-2837 min
Point of DiscoveryBONUS: Presenting the Texas Podcast NetworkTo hear the full TX512 show, go to the episode from July 21, 2021 titled “The Texas Podcast Network” Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2LENTUXmG4TTNhbc5mSNu2 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-texas-podcast-network/id1541588194?i=1000529545464 Google: https://txsci.net/tx512 Texas Podcast Network: https://www.utexas.edu/texas-podcast-network Music for today’s show was produced by:Podington Bear - https://www.podingtonbear.com/ About Point of DiscoveryPoint of Discovery is a production of the University of Te...
2021-08-1612 min
Point of DiscoveryThe Case Against SpankingPhysical punishment, or spanking, is widely practiced in the U.S. and around the world, although it appears to be decreasing. Parents, caregivers and school administrators who use it say the goal is to prevent unwanted behaviors and teach children to make better choices. But does it actually work? And what long term effects does it have on the physical and mental health of people who are punished this way?In today’s special episode, we’re teaming up with Ike Evans, producer of the Into the Fold podcast, to jointly interview one of the world’s expert...
2021-05-1239 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 18: Eat, Drink, Think: From the Dinner Table to the Classroom with Hi'ilei HobartOn this episode, Jen and Stephanie speak with UT anthropologist Hi'ilei Hobart who brings her unique research on food sovereignty and indigenous peoples to the proverbial table of this podcast, discussing the ways in which her personal experiences have shaped her writing and her classroom. We enjoyed this conversation, and we hope you do too! Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Hiʻilei Julia Kawehipuaakahaopulani Hobart is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin. She holds a PhD in Food Studies from New Y...
2021-04-2330 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 17: Teaching Growth Mindset through the Art Gallery Experience with Siobhán McCuskerFrom the Blanton Museum of Art, Siobhán McCusker, an artist and innovative educator with a unique background, joins Jen, Stephanie, and Dixie to talk about the creative ways in which she uses the art gallery experience as a microcosm for teaching growth mindset to classrooms (and faculty) of all disciplines. We really enjoyed this wonderful and uplifting conversation and we hope you do as well. Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Siobhán McCusker is the museum educator for the university audience at the Blanton Museum of Ar...
2021-04-0940 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 16: "It's Definitely Been a Journey": Nursing a Learning Mindset with Danica SumpterDr. Danica Sumpter from UT's School of Nursing joins Dixie and Stephanie to talk about her incredible personal journey to nursing and teaching nursing as well as her high-impact work in so many areas of society, including within the Black Mamas Community Collective where she strives to help mothers "not just survive but thrive." Her inspiring story and mindful practices in an online classroom environment are so helpful for all teachers across disciplines and settings. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Danica Sumpter is is a Clinical Assistant Professor...
2021-03-2647 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 15: "It's All About Communication" with Mike MackertOn this fun episode, Mike Mackert, the illustrious director of UT's Center for Health Communication, regales Dixie and Jen with his (very) non-linear personal journey to his current high-impact platform of evidence-based health communication strategies and and the amazing work of his team that truly spans the vast campus of The University of Texas at Austin. Thanks for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Michael Mackert, Ph.D., is the Director of The University of Texas at Austin Center for Health Communication and Professor in the Stan Richards School of...
2021-03-1239 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 12: Rich Reddick Talks Student Mentorship, Cultural Taxation, and Inclusion and EquityOn yet another fun and enlightening episode, we have the great pleasure of bringing on the amazing Rich Reddick, the Associate Dean for equity, community engagement, and outreach at UT. A professor of many talents, Rich talks about his own career path, mentorship of students across race/gender, cultural taxation, and student wellness. Take a listen and thanks for joining us on the Other Side of Campus. Happy Holidays to all! (And farewell, 2020, wish we could say it was nice knowing you but... ya know...)
ABOUT THE GUEST
Richard J. Reddick, Ed.D. is the...
2020-12-1848 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 11: Two Guys (and Two Gals!) on Effective Learning with Art Markman and Bob DukeOn this very special episode, Two Guys on Your Head hosts Art Markman and Bob Duke pay a visit to The Other Side of Campus for a fun discussion with Jen and Stephanie about effective learning and teaching. You don't want to miss this interesting and hilarious collaboration. Thanks for joining us!
ABOUT OUR GUESTS
Art Markman, Ph.D., is Annabel Irion Worsham Centennial Professor of Psychology and Marketing at the University of Texas at Austin. He got his Sc.B. in Cognitive Science from Brown and his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University...
2020-12-0448 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 9: Social Work in Academia: Teaching the "Twilight" Generation with Diane McDaniel RhodesFrom the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, Diane McDaniel Rhodes joins us for a fun, thematic discussion about young adult fiction as well as the problematic nature of beloved popular culture icons and the narratives they propound, albeit not on purpose. As Diane says, "We are all steeped in the same tea," authors such as J.K. Rowling included. Thus, in this episode, we ask the question: where did our society get it wrong and how do we reexamine the narratives we've so easily accepted? Thanks for joining us!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Diane McDaniel...
2020-11-0247 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 8: "The Joy of Thinking" with Michael StarbirdOn this episode, Dixie and Stephanie are joined by Professor of Mathematics Michael P. Starbird to talk about his book the Five Elements of Effective Thinking and the practical applications of his principles in the classroom to encourage positive change and growth in students. Thanks for joining us for this valuable and fun discussion!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Michael Starbird is a University Distinguished Teaching Professor of Mathematics at The University of Texas at Austin. He has been at UT his whole career except for leaves, including to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey...
2020-10-2347 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 7: The "Hero's Journey": Learning through Failure and Teaching through IdentityNarratives shape our world in infinite ways, and on this episode, Jen and Stephanie interview Dr. Rachel Gonzalez-Martin to better understand how much established narratives impose restrictions upon the learning environment, undermining the identity and creativity of students and faculty alike. Whose descriptions of what should be dominate the choices we make in education? But through this conversation, we learn that maintaining individual identity and exhibiting professionalism are not mutually exclusive and that finding sensible alternatives to norms and conventions that traditionally indicate academic rigor does not result in immediate termination. Amazing! Thanks for joining us on The Other...
2020-10-1654 min
Point of DiscoveryArtificial Intelligence Revs Up Evolution’s ClockEvolutionary biologists never have enough time. Some of the most mysterious behaviors in the animal kingdom—like parenting—evolved over thousands of years, if not longer. Human lifespans are just too short to sit and observe such complex behaviors evolve. But computer scientists are beginning to offer clues by using artificial intelligence to simulate the life and death of thousands of generations of animals in a matter of hours or days. It’s called computational evolution.
One behavior that’s long baffled biologists is called mobbing, in which a gang of hyenas team up to steal prey from muc...
2020-10-1210 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 6: What Else is Possible?: Experiential Learning and the Growth MindsetOn this episode, Stephanie talks with long-time professor of practice Dixie Stanforth about learning through failing, experimental learning, and what it really means to have and exhibit a growth mindset in the classroom. Thanks for joining us!
PRODUCER'S NOTE: This episode was recorded on August 4th, 2020 via Zoom.
CREDITS
Assistant Producers/Hosts: Stephanie Seidel Holmsten, Dixie Stanforth
(Intro theme features additional PTF fellows Patrick Davis, Keith Brown, David Vanden Bout)
Intro and Outro Music by: Charlie Harper (Additional background music by Charlie Harper, Michelle Daniel, Blue Dot Sessions, Scott Holmes, the Strugatsky...
2020-10-0935 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 5: The Great Debate: US Politics in the Classroom with Daron ShawDr. Daron Shaw, professor of government in the College of Liberal Arts, discusses how he handles teaching politics and elections to a class with a huge enrollment of students who all possess conflicting viewpoints and varying political thought shaped by their environments and backgrounds. This is also a fascinating peek into the way in which one of the largest online courses at the University of Texas (enrollment of roughly 1000 students) is taught. Needless to say, Dr. Shaw's experience and insight are crucial for dealing with this unprecedented time in US history, and so we appreciate him joining us on...
2020-10-0256 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 4: Examining Global Racism in the Classroom with Chelsi West OhueriOn this episode, Jen and Stephanie have a fun conversation with anthropologist Chelsi West Ohueri from UT's Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. Chesi tells us her unique and amazing journey to anthropology and the remarkable turn of events that thrust her into Albania, which in turn shaped her research and teaching. Thank you for joining us on The Other Side of Campus!
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr. Chelsi West Ohueri is a cultural anthropologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies with appointments in the Department of Anthropology...
2020-09-2538 minThe Other Side of CampusEpisode 1: So... What's a Faculty Learning Community, Anyway?On this, our very first episode, hosts Jen, Stephanie, and Katie discuss faculty learning communities and elaborate on their experiences in developing such groups across campus.
Our goal for this podcast is to try to reach the teachers across UT and beyond. We want to create a space and place for rich, complex dialogues about teaching for effective learning. We want folks listening to leave with practical ideas that they can apply to their teaching. We want everyone to understand and believe that all of us are capable of making changes. It’s a step by step, ne...
2020-09-1837 min
Point of DiscoveryAsk the COVID-19 ExpertsWe asked you, dear listeners, to send us your most burning questions about COVID-19. And you didn’t disappoint. You asked: When will it be safe for my 12-week-old baby to meet her grandparents? Can you catch it twice? Is the virus mutating and will that make it harder to develop vaccines?
In today’s episode, our three experts get to the bottom of these questions, and more. Meet our experts:
Professor Lauren Ancel Meyers is an epidemiologist and leader of the UT COVID-19 Modeling Consortium. Her team recently found that the virus was circulating in C...
2020-08-2012 min
Point of DiscoveryThe Next 50 Years: Anybody Out There?In these next few decades, will humans finally find life in space? We asked University of Texas at Austin astronomer Caroline Morley and her answer just might surprise you. Morley shares her vision for the future in this latest episode of our miniseries, The Next 50 Years.
Check out more podcasts and essays in the Next 50 Years series: https://cns.utexas.edu/news/tags/the-next-50-years
Scientists from across UT Austin are joining forces in the hunt for life on other planets. Astronomers, geoscientists, chemists, biologists and aerospace engineers have pooled resources to form the UT...
2020-06-0712 min
Point of DiscoveryThe Next 50 Years: A Model of Life on the Atomic ScaleCan we simulate life — in all its messy complexity and at the scale of each individual atom — in a computer? Even the most powerful supercomputers today can only simulate a tiny portion of a single living cell for a few nanoseconds. Carlos Baiz is a biochemist at the University of Texas at Austin who says it might someday be possible to simulate an entire living cell for hours or longer. But he says there are two big catches. Baiz shares his vision for the future in this latest episode of our miniseries, The Next 50 Years.
Check out more...
2020-04-2810 min
Point of DiscoveryScience Amid the Social DistanceDaily life has changed for many of us due to the coronavirus pandemic. During this unusual time, when it’s harder to connect physically with important people in our lives, it can be helpful to step back and spend a little time thinking about the things that still bind us together, like the wonder of the natural world and the hope that scientists offer us as we take on societal challenges.
We’ve put together a compilation from our previous episodes that we hope will help you find some solace right now: in rediscovering life, the people we'r...
2020-03-2727 min
Point of DiscoveryThe Next 50 Years: An A.I. Designed to Make Life BetterArtificial intelligence is becoming more and more a part of our daily lives. But will AI have mostly positive or negative impacts on society? Some potential unintended consequences include home service robots that accidentally break your fine china, or systems that increase the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Peter Stone co-leads the Good Systems initiative at the University of Texas at Austin, which is trying to hash out guiding principles for building AI systems that are more likely to have a positive impact and fewer unintended consequences. He shares his team’s vision for the future in th...
2020-03-1010 min
Point of DiscoveryComing Soon: A New Podcast MiniseriesIf you've been listening to our podcast for a while, you probably have noticed that we haven't had a new episode for a few months. We’ve taken that time to step back and reflect on our show, both what has changed over the last few years (we’re now in our fifth year of production – yay!) and where we're going in the future. In this month’s episode, producer and host Marc Airhart chats with senior editor Christine Sinatra about the podcast. We also share some exciting news: we’re kicking off a new miniseries called The Next 50 Years. The...
2019-12-1806 min
Point of DiscoveryYou Belong Here: What It Takes for Success in CollegeWhy do so many first-year students struggle in college? Who is most likely to fail? And what can professors and staff do to help them get over the hump?
“I didn't know what was going on. And I just felt out of place as a whole,” said Ivonne Martinez, a first-year student at UT Austin who was in danger of failing Freshman Calculus. “I was like, What am I doing? And that kind of made me panic.”
In today’s show, math professor Uri Treisman and chemistry professor David Laude describe ways they support students through th...
2019-09-2015 minSupersized ScienceUT Austin President Greg Fenves On The Frontera SupercomputerThe University of Texas at Austin has claimed a leadership role in supercomputing with the top academic system in the world, Frontera, located at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC). The National Science Foundation awarded TACC $60 million for building and operating Frontera, the fifth fastest computer in the world according to the June 2019 Top500 rankings. Frontera’s dedication event on September 3, 2019 was marked by an address from UT Austin President Greg Fenves.
TACC podcast host Jorge Salazar interviewed President Fenves shortly afterwards, where he spoke on the impact the NSF-funded Frontera supercomputer will have on the university an...
2019-09-0804 min
Point of DiscoveryBetter AI Vision to Help Save LivesKristen Grauman, professor of computer science at the University of Texas at Austin, and her team have taught an artificial intelligence agent how to do something that usually only humans can do—take a few quick glimpses around and infer its whole environment. That will be a critical skill for search and rescue robots that can enter a dangerous situation—like a burning building—and relay information back to firefighters or other personnel.
To see an animation of how the new AI agent creates a full view of the world from just a few glimpses, go to our pr...
2019-06-1708 min
Point of DiscoveryA Machine That Understands Language Like a HumanOne thing that sets humans apart from even the smartest of artificially intelligent machines is the ability to understand, not just the definitions of words and phrases, but the deepest meanings in human speech.
Alex Huth, a neuroscientist and computer scientist, is trying to build an intelligent computer system that can predict the patterns of brain activity in a human listening to someone speaking. If a computer could begin to extract the same kinds of meaning from a set of words as a human does, that might help explain how the human brain itself makes sense of...
2019-04-2610 min
Point of DiscoveryA Love Letter from Texas Scientists to the Periodic TableWe’re celebrating the 150th anniversary of the periodic table. Join us as we tour the cosmos, from the microscopic to the telescopic, with four scientists studying the role of four elements—zinc, oxygen, palladium and gold—in life, the universe and everything.
Emily Que is a chemist who helped capture, for the first time on video, zinc fireworks that burst from an egg when it’s fertilized by sperm. Astronomer Michael Endl is searching for chemical signs of life in the atmospheres of exoplanets. Kate Biberdorf (a.k.a. Kate the Chemist) found new ways to speed up...
2019-03-0616 min
Point of DiscoveryAll in the (Scientific) FamilyScientists often talk about the people who mentored them, and the students and postdocs they supervise, in ways that sound like a family. Today, in the second of a two-part conversation, we listen in on two members of a well-known scientific lineage: Bill Press, a professor of computer science and integrative biology at the University of Texas at Austin and his former doctoral adviser, Kip Thorne, one of the recipients of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of gravitational waves.
Missed the first part of the conversation? Thorne and Press talked about what it’s li...
2019-02-2511 min
Point of DiscoveryBringing Real Science to the Big ScreenWhat’s it like for a scientist to work as an advisor on a major Hollywood film? In this first of a two-part conversation, Kip Thorne talks with his former graduate student Bill Press about the impact that a film like Interstellar can have on the public, balancing scientific accuracy and entertainment and what winning the Nobel Prize really says about a scientists’ worth. (BTW, Interstellar star Matthew McConaughey is also a UT Austin alum)
Special thanks to the family of Bryce DeWitt and Cécile DeWitt-Morette for their involvement in bringing Dr. Thorne to Austin for the i...
2019-01-2209 min
Point of DiscoveryRecap: A Big Week in ScienceThe first week of October is like a science-lover’s World Series: Each year, the spotlight falls on high-impact science, when day after day, a series of Nobel Prizes and other prestigious awards are announced all in one week. This has been an especially exciting week for us here in UT Austin’s College of Natural Sciences.
For the second year in a row, one of our alumni (James Allison) nabbed the Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine. What’s more, the Nobel Prizes given in the categories of physics and chemistry this year were also celebrated by sci...
2018-10-0542 min
Point of DiscoveryOf Fruit Flies, Nobel Prizes and Genetic Discoveries that Change the WorldLast year, University of Texas at Austin alumnus Michael Young won the Nobel prize for discovering the molecular mechanism behind circadian rhythms. Circadian clocks are critical for the health of all living things, acting as the internal timekeepers in plants and animals that help to synchronize functions like eating and sleeping with our planet’s daily rhythm of light and dark.
In today’s episode, Young reveals the series of lucky events that launched him into the forefront of circadian rhythm research, what’s really going on in your body when you experience jet lag and how insigh...
2018-09-2710 min
Point of DiscoveryWhich Mental Superpower Would You Choose?What if people who lost a particular brain function—say, an Alzheimer's patient who can no longer make new memories—had the same option as many people who’ve lost limbs or other body parts—the chance to use technology to supplement what’s no longer there? Or what if you could boost a healthy person's brain, essentially giving them mental superpowers, like the ability to become a Kung Fu master by downloading new skills directly to your brain?
Scientists are now working on brain-machine interfaces, systems that connect the human brain to a computer to do something...
2018-06-2813 min
Point of DiscoveryJames Allison Eases Off the BrakesForty years ago, when James Allison had just gotten his PhD in biochemistry, he was intrigued by this far-out idea that was floating around about a new way to treat cancer. The idea—dubbed cancer immunotherapy—was to train the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells—the same way this system already goes after bacteria and viruses. He was one of the few people who actually believed it could work.
In today’s episode, Allison—an alumnus of the University of Texas at Austin and the chair of immunology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston—talk...
2018-05-2110 min
Point of DiscoveryWhen Science Communication Doesn’t Get ThroughClimate change, vaccinations, evolution. Scientists sometimes struggle to get their message across to non-scientists. On the latest episode of the Point of Discovery podcast, what communications research can teach us about why science communication sometimes backfires, and what scientists can do about it.
Today’s episode features Emma Dietrich, a PhD student in the Ecology, Evolution and Behavior graduate program at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of Austin Science Advocates. It also features Anthony Dudo, an associate professor in the Moody College of Communication at UT Austin who studies the science of science co...
2018-04-1212 min
Point of DiscoveryA Score to Settle with CancerJonathan Sessler was a college student when he was first diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Fortunately, he was also a chemistry major. After surviving radiation therapy, relapsing and then surviving extremely high doses of what he calls “rat poison” (a.k.a. chemotherapy), his oncologist challenged him: “You’re a chemist. Find new cancer drugs.”
In the four decades since, he’s founded two companies, one of which commercialized a blockbuster drug for leukemia and was sold for $21 billion. The other is working to develop a drug he invented to treat ovarian cancer, based on large molecules that deliver p...
2018-03-0213 min
Point of DiscoveryBONUS: Full Conversation with Three STEM DeansWe recently invited three leaders in science and engineering at the University of Texas at Austin to talk about the lack of diversity in their respective fields – and ways to tackle the problem. We featured highlights from their conversation in the previous podcast. The episode you’re listening to right now is the full conversation.
To hear the shorter, highlights episode, go to: https://soundcloud.com/point-of-discovery/tackling-science-and-engineerings-diversity-problem
About Point of Discovery
Point of Discovery is a production of the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences. You can listen to all...
2018-01-2524 min
Point of DiscoveryTackling Science and Engineering's Diversity ProblemThe STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and math – have real work to do in terms of diversity. Right now, women make up only about 30 percent of the STEM workforce – and people identifying as black or Hispanic make up just 11 percent. What are the barriers to entry -- or the obstacles to staying in -- STEM? And how can we make sure smart, creative thinkers and problem solvers from diverse backgrounds feel welcome and included in these fields? We invited three leaders in science and engineering to a discussion about these issues to find out what places like the University of Tex...
2018-01-2513 min
Point of DiscoveryThe Language BrokersMillions of children in the U.S. play a vital, but often overlooked, role in their families. These children of immigrants, known as “language brokers,” help their parents translate job applications, medical documents and bills into their native language. They also help them navigate a completely alien culture. Researchers like Su Yeong Kim, in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin, are debating whether being a language broker is good for children, or not.
About Point of Discovery
Point of Discovery is a production of the University of T...
2017-12-1408 min
Point of DiscoveryCosmic Car WreckAstronomers have long been able to watch the universe’s blockbuster special effects unfold in dazzling 3D Technicolor. But until now, it’s been like watching a silent movie. Today that all changes. Scientists announced this morning that they have for the first time ever detected both light and gravitational waves from a massive explosion in space caused by the collision of two super-dense neutron stars. On today’s show, we talk to astrophysicist Pawan Kumar about what this breakthrough means for his field.
Image: Artist’s illustration of two merging neutron stars. (Credit: NSF/LIGO/Sonoma State Un...
2017-10-1607 min
Point of DiscoveryDoes This Look Like Cancer?A team of scientists and engineers led by Livia S. Eberlin at The University of Texas at Austin has invented a powerful tool that rapidly and accurately identifies cancerous tissue during surgery, delivering results in about 10 seconds. The MasSpec Pen is an innovative handheld instrument that gives surgeons precise diagnostic information about what tissue to cut or preserve, helping improve treatment and reduce the chances of cancer recurrence. The research is described in the Sept. 6 edition of the journal Science Translational Medicine.
Learn more: https://cns.utexas.edu/news/scientists-new-device-accurately-identifies-cancer-in-seconds
About Point of Discovery
2017-09-0708 min
Point of DiscoveryWhen Will We Have Quantum Computers?Quantum computers might sound like science fiction. A fully functioning quantum computer could complete calculations in a matter of seconds that would take a conventional computer millions of years to process.
Science fiction or not, they’re already here. Scientists at Google, Microsoft, IBM and elsewhere are building and studying them. At this point, they’re not very powerful. But Scott Aaronson, a theoretical computer scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, believes in the next few years, one of these teams may achieve something called quantum supremacy—the first demonstration of a quantum computer doing someth...
2017-07-1107 min
Point of DiscoveryCan Sound Save a Fish?Gulf Corvina look pretty ordinary—they’re a couple of feet long and silvery. Yet the sounds they make—when millions get together to spawn—are a kind of wonder of the natural world. It’s also why they are in danger. Gulf Corvina live in only one place in the world—the Gulf of California. A decade ago, the Mexican government asked marine biologist Brad Erisman and his colleagues to study the Corvina. They were worried that heavy fishing might cause the population to collapse. When Erisman put a microphone in the water for the first time, he was blown aw...
2017-04-2409 min
Point of DiscoveryKeeps Us on Our ToesWorried that smart robots are taking over the world? You’ll be relieved to know they still have a long way to go. That is unless you’re an artificial intelligence researcher like Peter Stone. One big challenge facing robots that walk and run is that they fall over a lot. Take for example the annual RoboCup competition in which small human-like robots play soccer. Even with the best minds in computer science behind them, they’re about as graceful as toddlers. Now neuroscientist Michael Mauk thinks he has a solution. It could put robots one step closer to the ul...
2017-03-1505 min
Point of DiscoveryThe Science of RelationshipsIn honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re speaking with Lisa Neff, a researcher studying what makes happy, healthy romantic relationships tick. Neff is an associate professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. She answers several burning questions, including: What are the health benefits of romantic relationships? How can newlyweds avoid communication breakdowns that result from external stress? and, Do optimists make better partners?
Neff is recruiting volunteers for a new study focusing on the romantic relationships of seniors, called Relationship Experiences Across the Lifespan. She is spec...
2017-02-1117 min
Point of DiscoveryResetting the Alcoholic BrainAdron Harris, director of the Waggoner Center for Alcoho and Addiction Research at The University of Texas at Austin, and his team mapped the differences in gene expression between an alcoholic's brain and a non-alcoholic's brain. They found that, as a person becomes dependent on alcohol, thousands of genes in their brains are turned up or down, like a dimmer switch on a lightbulb, compared to the same genes in a healthy person's brain. The scientists are now using an innovative technique to find drugs that can, in a sense, turn those switches back to their original settings and...
2017-01-2210 min
Point of DiscoveryThe Mighty CopepodThese teeny shrimp-like critters at the bottom of the ocean food web seem totally unimportant. But throw in an oil spill and some well-intentioned human intervention and they can have a huge impact, right up to the top of the food web, including sea turtles, dolphins and humans. Meet the mighty copepod.
About Point of Discovery
Point of Discovery is a production of the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences. You can listen to all our episodes at @point-of-discovery .
You can also subscribe via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us...
2016-12-1507 min
Point of DiscoveryEvolution Inspires Anthrax CureThis fall marks the 15th anniversary of the U.S. anthrax letter attacks that sickened dozens of people and killed five. At the time, there was no effective treatment for a late stage infection. The attacks accelerated work already underway at the University of Texas at Austin. Brent Iverson, George Georgiou and Jennifer Maynard borrowed a page from Mother Nature's playbook to develop the world's first treatment for late stage inhalation anthrax.
Tell Us What You Think
Take our short survey at: http://txsci.net/utpodcastsurvey
About Point of Discovery
Point...
2016-10-2110 min
Point of DiscoveryThe Last First Planetary MissionThe New Horizons spacecraft brought humanity face to face with the last unexplored planet in our solar system: Pluto. What we're learning is amazing. But, time and again, the mission almost didn't happen. University of Texas at Austin alumnus Alan Stern describes the challenges, and the joys, of the last first mission to a planet.
For a complete transcript of this episode, visit our show page at: https://cns.utexas.edu/news/the-last-first-planetary-mission-audio
Tell Us What You Think
Take our short survey at: http://txsci.net/utpodcastsurvey
About Point of Discovery
2016-09-1208 min
Point of DiscoveryBacterial BFFs or Frenemies?About how long would you say the microbes living in your gut have been there? You might be surprised by what researchers discovered when they compared the microbes in our guts with those of our closest relatives, the great apes.
Tell Us What You Think
Take our short survey at: http://txsci.net/utpodcastsurvey
About Point of Discovery
Point of Discovery is a production of the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences. You can listen to all our episodes at @point-of-discovery .
You can also subscribe via...
2016-08-0305 min
Point of DiscoveryWhy is CGI in the Movies Still So Hard?As the summer movie season kicks into high gear, we talk with a scientist about some of the challenges in simulating the way everyday objects behave on the big screen. Etienne Vouga's computer simulations have helped bring to life a wizard's hair in The Hobbit and clothing in Tangled.
To see examples of some of his simulations, go to: https://cns.utexas.edu/news/why-is-cgi-in-the-movies-still-so-hard
About Point of Discovery
Point of Discovery is a production of the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences. You can listen to all our episodes...
2016-05-3107 min
Point of DiscoveryHere's What Research Did for Me, Student StoriesAs the College of Natural Sciences’ Freshman Research Initiative celebrates its 10th anniversary, we speak to students and scientists about how doing research as freshmen and sophomores impacted them.
About Point of Discovery
Point of Discovery is a production of the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences. You can listen to all our episodes at @point-of-discovery .
You can also subscribe via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/point-of-discovery-podcast/id1036884430?mt=2
or via our RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:150441582/sounds.rss
or via Stitcher: ww...
2016-04-1007 min
Point of DiscoveryJekyll and Hyde BacteriaTo study diseases, biologists often make models, for example, a rat with a disorder similar to Alzheimer's. With a good model, they can tinker with different variables and see if anything halts the disease, without the ethical limits of experimenting on actual humans. But scientists studying an especially nasty bacterium that tends to invade and breed out of control in the lungs of people with cystic fibrosis (CF) kept hitting dead ends in their search for a good model.
Pigs and rats that were genetically engineered to have the same gene defect that causes CF in humans...
2016-03-2006 min
Point of DiscoverySaving the BeesAs bees sharply decline around the world, two researchers are taking very different approaches to understand -- and potentially reverse -- this troubling trend. One is studying the microbes that live inside bees and help protect them against infections. The other is studying the links between changing landscapes and bee health.
Point of Discovery is a production of the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences. You can listen to all our episodes at @point-of-discovery . You can also subscribe via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/point-of-discovery-podcast/id1036884430?mt=2
or via our...
2016-02-1908 min
Point of DiscoveryBeauty and the YeastDespite a billion years of evolution separating us from the baker’s yeast in our refrigerators, hundreds of genes from an ancestor that we share live on nearly unchanged in us both, say biologists at The University of Texas at Austin.
Point of Discovery is a production of the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences. You can listen to all our episodes at https://soundcloud.com/point-of-discovery . You can also subscribe via iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/point-of-discovery-podcast/id1036884430?mt=2 or via our RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:150441582/so...
2015-06-0107 min